Middletown group sees chance to save Stone Meadows Farm

Thursday

May 10, 2018 at 5:30 AM

The Middletown Planning Commission tabled the latest proposal to develop the 168-acre Stone Meadows Farm and sent the plans back for more revisions.

A group of concerned Middletown residents trying to prevent the development of a 168-acre farm says it has the resources to save the property on Route 413. It just needs a chance to make a formal offer to the owners of the Stone Meadows Farm, according to one of the group's leading organizers.

"We have been in contact with people at the county level," said Jeffrey Miller, of Save Stone Meadows Farm. "They have said in private meetings that they are ready to do what it takes to preserve the farm. If the moment presents itself, we could come up with a way to make everyone happy."

Miller lives close to the farm owned by the Stone family for nearly three generations, but he has ruled out approaching them personally. He wants to move the process deliberately and through official, legal channels to avoid "stepping on anyone's toes."

He would not give an exact number that Save Stone Meadows Farm could offer, but Miller says it is competitive to the rumored $10 million offered by the proposed land developer, Metropolitan Development Group. Miller is even more hopeful that Save Stone Meadows Farm will get an opportunity following the latest setback for the planned development.

Metropolitan Development Group formally presented its revised plan to turn the property into a 124-home community to the Middletown Planning Commission last week.The three-hour meeting included a review of letters from the township engineer, the traffic engineer and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation that highlighted several concerns that should be resolved.

Those issues include stormwater management and impact on local traffic. The commission concluded at the end of the session that the plans should be revised and resubmitted before they are presented to the township supervisors for final approval.

"The plans have been tabled," said Patrick Duffy, Middletown's director of zoning, planning and engineering. "The developer has to meet with PennDOT, revise the plan, address those issues and resubmit. Then we'll see if the planning commission is in a position to vote on a recommendation to the supervisors."

If Metropolitan opts out of filing an extension to revise the plans and chooses to bring the current proposal to the supervisors, the planning commission would recommend a rejection, Duffy said.

This news organization was unsuccessful in reaching an attorney representing Metropolitan Development Group for comment; he did not immediately return a message left at his office.

According to the land development records, Metropolitan plans to construct 124 single-family homes on the 168-acre property, on 1707 Langhorne-Newtown Road/Route 413. The lots would range in size from 22,500 to 30,000 square feet or more, plus a total of approximately 50 acres of open space. The existing residence and farm buildings would be carved out in a 10-acre subdivision.

It's the second time the plans have been handed back to the Metropolitan Development Group. The first proposal was submitted in 2016 and tabled last year for similar reasons. At the time, the commission did not think the off-site improvements to the roads and storm draining were complete. Miller is hopeful that the continued stalling will sour the property owners on the deal and open up an opportunity for Save Stone Meadows Farm.

Josef Stone and Francine Lida Stone are listed as the owners of Stone Meadows Farm. Middletown attempted to acquire the land through condemnation in 2010, but was unsuccessful. Residents have signed petitions and appeared before township supervisors over the years to stop the development, ultimately establishing Save Stone Meadows Farm as a nonprofit in 2017. Miller says the group cannot not only acquire the land but also maintain the property through volunteers and donations.

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